; but
God did not permit it, through the intercession of Patrick. The anger
of God fell afterwards on the impious multitude, so that great numbers
of them died--viz., twelve thousand in one day. Patrick said to
Laeghaire: "If you do not believe now, you shall die quickly; for the
anger of God will come upon your head." When the king heard these
words, he was seized with great fear. The king went into a house
afterwards to take counsel with his people. "It is better for me,"
said he, "to believe in God than [to suffer] what is threatened to
me--my death." It was after this that Laeghaire knelt to Patrick, and
believed in God, and many thousands believed in that day.

Then it was that Patrick said to Laeghaire: "Since you have believed in
God, and have submitted to me, length of life in thy sovereignty will
be given thee. As a reward for thy disobedience some time ago,
however, there will be no king nor roydamhna from thee for ever, except
Lughaidh," the son of Laeghaire; for his mother implored Patrick that
he would not curse the infant that was in her womb, when Patrick said:
"I will not, until he comes against me." Lughaidh then assumed the
sovereignty; and he went to Achadh-farcha. There he said: "Is not that
the church of the cleric who said that there would be neither king nor
roydamhna from Laeghaire?" After this, darts of lightning descended
from the heavens on his head, which killed him, and hence is [the name]
Achadh-farcha. These miracles live to this day. These are the
miracles the divines of Erinn knew, and through which they put a thread
of narration. Columcille, son of Fedhlidhmidh, Ultan, the grand-son of
Conchobhar, Adamnan, the grandson of Tinne, Eleran the Wise, Ciaran of
Belach-duin, Cruimther Collait from Druim-Railgech, knew Patrick's
miracles in the first place, and composed them.

A man of truth, indeed, was this man, with purity of mind like the
Patriarchs; a true pilgrim like Abraham; gentle and forgiving of heart
like Moses; a praise-singing psalmist like David; a shrine of wisdom
like Solomon; a chosen vessel for proclaiming truth like Paul the
Apostle; a man full of grace and knowledge of the Holy Ghost like John;
the root of a holy herb-garden towards the children of faith; a vine
branch with fruitfulness; a sparkling fire, with power to heat and warm
the sons of life, in founding and dispensing charity. A lion in
strength and might; a dove in gentleness and humility. A serpen